NCMME was established to preserve, display and interpret artefacts relating to the coal mining industry and enable others to gain an insight into the mining industry and the life of mining communities.

This project conserved industrial objects, digitised images and increased access to a unique coal mining collection at the museum at Caphouse Colliery. The collection includes smaller items, such as photographs, and larger items such as former coal mining machinery.

19 oral histories were also recorded, in both group and individual interviews. Alongside the 7,205 photos which have been digitised, these stories are now available for the public to experience in a range of formats, both on and off the museum site.

During the project, volunteers also received informal training in object handling, ethics of restoration and cataloguing.

The success of the project has led to the museum becoming one of the top visitor attractions in Yorkshire.